AKRON, Ohio – Two goals in the opening 20 minutes helped Akron to a 3-0 victory over the Northern Illinois University women's soccer team on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 20) at First Energy Stadium – Cub Cadet Field. 

The first shot of the contest came for the Huskies in the seventh minute from sophomore Sarah Avery (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) who fired a shot high of the Akron goal. 

Akron (6-9-1, 3-4-1 MAC) opened the scoring as Carly Pcholinsky poked home a cross from the left side, getting just enough of a touch to steer the ball across the goal line to give the Zips a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. 

The Zips doubled their advantage on a goal by Sydney Worthy in the 18th minute. Kayleigh Penton whipped in a corner and Worthy volleyed it back across goal and into the net as Akron took a 2-0 lead, an advantage it would take into halftime. 

Early in the second half, NIU sophomore goalkeeper Julia Lentz (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) came up with a stop on a shot from Anna Meister. NIU (2-11-2, 0-7-1 MAC) came right back early in the half and created a pair of opportunities as freshman Allison Whitaker (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf) had a chance saved by Akron goalkeeper Libby Harper in the 49th minute and, a minute later, senior Kelsey Chope (San Jose, Calif./Leland) fired an effort off-target. 

Pcholinsky added second goal in the 75th minute as she collected a pass from Annamarie Alfery and powered a volley off one bounce past Lentz to give Akron a 3-0 lead. 

NIU came back with a pair of chances just after the third goal from the Zips. Senior Abby Gregg (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) took a shot that was deflected by the Akron defense in the 77th minute and junior Allie Fullriede (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley) tried to catch the Akron goalkeeper off her line just a minute later, but was unable to keep her effort on target as the Zips came away with the 3-0 victory. 

Lentz finished with three saves in the contest for the Huskies; Harper made one save for the Zips. 

NIU will return to action on Thursday, October 24, when the Huskies host Bowling Green in the first game of a three-game homestand to close the regular season. Kickoff against the Falcons is scheduled for 7 p.m.